The Benue State Police Command has arrested two suspects linked to the killing of a National Youth Service Corps member, Ben Agir, who was allegedly beaten to death by a vigilante group over a motorcycle he was said to own.
Agir was killed last Sunday night at Major Settlement, close to the Buruku Local Government Secretariat in Benue State, after being accused of stealing a motorcycle.
Confirming the development, the Buruku Local Government chairman, Raymond Aondoakura, said the vigilante group in the area had been suspended pending the outcome of investigations into the incident.
Speaking with journalists on Friday, the command’s spokesperson, Udeme Edet, said the incident happened between 11pm and midnight on Sunday.
“The deceased was accused by a group of hoodlums of stealing a motorcycle and was subsequently mobbed to death without any form of investigation,” Udeme said.
“But preliminary findings revealed that the accusation was false, as documents relating to the motorcycle indicated that the deceased was its rightful owner,” she added.
Udeme disclosed that two suspects had been taken into custody in connection with the crime, while another suspect is still on the run.
“Two suspects, Terkimbi Abumswende and Joshua Adagim, were arrested in connection with the crime, but another suspect remains at large,” she said.
She added that efforts are ongoing to arrest the fleeing suspect and assured the public that a thorough investigation will be carried out to ensure all those involved are brought to justice.
